From joann.hackos at comtech-serv.com  Tue Aug  7 16:04:09 2007
From: joann.hackos at comtech-serv.com (JoAnn Hackos)
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 16:04:09 -0600
Subject: ATTN: DITA Boot Camp workshop
Message-ID: <72E2EA99C8FA4F4B930539BF7939C6DF0156D464@CSI001.Comtech.local>

The JoAnn Hackos Workshop Series invites you to a weeklong intensive
DITA Boot Camp in Wakefield, MA October 22-26, 2007. During this five
day workshop, DITA Boot Camp will cover the concepts needed to move to
DITA successfully. The DITA Boot Camp has combined four of JoAnn
Hackos's workshops, Minimalism, Structured Writing, XML and DITA to give
attendees a strong foundation for topic-based authoring. This workshop
also includes a complimentary copy of the new Introduction to DITA: A
Basic User Guide to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture book.
Register online at
http://www.comtech-serv.com/workshops/registerDITA.shtml.

In the DITA Boot Camp program you'll get the core values of:
	* Structured Authoring 
	* Information Modeling 
	* Minimalism 
	* Business process change 
	* DITA details and implementation 
	* What is DITA all about?

By structuring a task in DITA, learn the structure inherent in the core
DITA specialized information types: task, concept, and reference.

What do I learn about Structured Authoring? Structured authoring is the
essential ingredient in Information Modeling. Learn how to create an
Information Model for your organization.

Learn:
	* the core requirements of an Information Model 
	* the business value of structured writing 
	* about an information architecture team 
	* the DITA information Types and Content Units 
	* a sample Information Model to help you create your own 

What does Minimalism have to do with DITA? Learn why eliminating empty
text and focusing on what users really need to know is a critical first
step toward structured authoring. You can't create structured topics out
of text that nobody wants and no one ever reads.

Learn:
	* to evaluate when minimalist strategies should be used 
	* the minimalist agenda 
	* the four basic principles of minimalism 
	* why minimalist information is read by 90% of users 
	* how major corporations have implemented minimalism in their
technical 	information 

What if I don't know XML? If you're unfamiliar with the basics of HTML
and XML, attend a special evening session on Tuesday night.

Learn:
	* the basic XML concepts and terminology 
	* how XSLT and style sheets transform XML tagged text into
formatted 	deliverables 
	* how to read a Document Type Definition (DTD) 
	
What about DITA details? Move from structured authoring and minimalism
to the details of the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA).
DITA is the OASIS standard for topic-based information development.
Learn why it is fast becoming the standard for technical communication
worldwide.

Learn:
	* build a business case for moving to the DITA 
	* plan a topic-based project using annotated topic lists 
	* create a DITA map to organize your topics into deliverables
for PDF, HTML, 	and help systems 
	* set up relationship tables 
	* handle conditional processing and content reuse through
conrefs 
	* process a DITA map using the DITA Open Toolkit 

Bring a laptop computer, sample documentation to complete exercises
with, and download the latest preview copy of Arbortext Editor.

Register NOW! We expect DITA Boot Camp to be very popular. Space is
limited to 25 participants.

ATTENTION CIDM MEMBERS. Because of very limited space, we will not be
offering the standard 2 for 1 deal for DITA Boot Camp. However, you will
receive a 10% DISCOUNT off the regular price of $1950. Please register
with Lovonya Thomas at lovonya at comtech-serv.com to receive this CIDM
member discount. 

For more information and to register visit the workshop web site at 
http://www.comtech-serv.com/workshops/index.shtml.